Over recent years Liverpool have provided us with countless moments of entertainment. Some regrettably at their expense when we think of Gerrards slip against Chelsea or Crystal Palaces comeback against them in that same season. However, they have also provided us with some of the great footballing comebacks in football history. A few of these games are going to have similar ring and that’s Steven Gerrard inspiring a comeback.
That being said lets get started in that very stadium…
Liverpool vs Olympiacos 3-1 2004
This comeback seemed to tell the story for the rest of the Champions League campaign for Liverpool. Going into the game Liverpool needed to win by two clear goals to advance into the knockout stages, this was always going to be tough ask and when Rivaldo scored after 27 minutes it made the uphill task even harder.
Florent Simama Pongolle put Liverpool level before the break which left 45 minutes at Anfield to find 2 goals progress. Neil Mellor gave Liverpool the lead with nine minutes left to play, setting the scene for Liverpools home town hero to determine the night. With just 4 minutes before full time Steven Gerrard steps up with a beautifully struck volley with the inside of his boot to send Liverpool through to the knockout stages which would eventually set the scene for another entry on my list but we will get to that later.
Liverpool vs Borussia Dortmund 2016
This was Jurgen Klopp’s first season for Liverpool and he found himself 4-2 on aggregate to his former side. This was an remarkably strong Dortmund side with he likes of Rues, Aubamyang and Mkhitaryan playing and convincingly the better side over the two legs with 25 minutes to play.
They really couldn’t have done anymore by this point Dortmund but this was a European night at Anfield. With only an Origi goal for the home side they needed something special. A beautifully hit low drive by Philippe Coutinho was the catalyst Liverpool needed. Then follow a Sakho header drew the sides level and Liverpool in a position for an unbelievable victory.
An injury time Lovern header caused the Anfield faithful to erupt. A 4-3 victory grab from the jaws of defeat.
Dortmund manager at the time Thomas Tuchal famously said after the game ‘ if I could explain it then something logical would have happened. You cant explain that.’
Liverpool vs Barcelona 2019
After a 3-0 beating at the Nou Camp from a Messi inspired Barcelona, who scored that wonderful free-kick, Liverpool were going to need something special to have any hope of reaching the final. Liverpool only really had slim chance because of Dembeles miss later in the first leg which would have sealed the tie.
Divock Origi started the unlikely comeback 7 minutes into the game when he tapped home after a lovely run from Henderson. This didn’t change the tie too much, its was only when Liverpools Dutch midfield maestro scored twice in 122 seconds to make it 3-3 on aggregate and give Liverpool a genuine chance of progressing.
Barcelona were uncharacteristically rattled and look lost in the Anfield atmosphere before the now famous commentary ‘Corner taken quickly’. Some genius thinking by Trent Alexander Arnold caught Barcelona napping and Origi fired home to give Liverpool the victory and progression to the final that they inevitably won.
This was the first time since 1986 that a team had turned around a 3 goal first leg deficit to win a semi-final. This was Liverpool side missing both Salah and Firmino.
Liverpool vs AC Milan 2005
It would be a comprehensive list of comebacks if it didn’t include the famous ‘Miracle of Istanbul’.
Liverpool came back from a 3-0 first half losing position to take AC Milan to penalties and secure a 5th Champions League Final Victory. This was an AC Milan side sporting some of the greatest players of a generation and a Liverpool side that had road their luck to be in the final in the first place.
After a first half blitzkrieg from Milan which include a first minute goal by Milan captain Maldini making him the oldest goal scorer in the competition. After a flurry of chances at both end, some sublime goalkeeping, defending and few offsides, Kaka played a lovely ball to Shevchenko who played it to Crespo to make it two. Then a beautiful through ball by Kaka through to Crespo to make it 3-0 by half time. At this point Kaka was purring and running the game partly due to Liverpools formation but ultimately because he was one of the best players around at the time.
It all changed in the second half though, Liverpool changed to a 3-5-2, with Gerrard as an attacking midfielder and Alonso and Hamann holding. This help stall Kaka and give him a lot less space to operate in. Then on 54 minutes in began, Liverpool’s favourite son scored a wonderfully met header from an Riise cross. Two minutes later Dida fumbled a Smicer long range effort to bring the game to 3-2. Three minutes later Gerrard burst into the box and was fouled by Gattuso giving Liverpool a penalty to bring it level. Up stepped Alonso who had the spot kick saved by Dida but Alonso followed up smashing the rebound into the roof of the net.
The comeback was complete. 6 mad minutes in the final changed the game.
The game was really dominated by Milan after this and through extra time. Traore cleared one of the line and an astonishing double save by Dudek in extra time kept Liverpool in contention and the rest as they say is history. Milan missed their first 2 penalties and Liverpool scored theirs, with Tomasson scoring, Riise missing and then Kaka and Smicer scoring it left Shevchenko needing to score to stay in the tie.
It only seems fair after his miracle extra time save that Dudek would be the one to win Liverpool the cup, after some Bruce Grobbelaar inspired ‘spaghetti legs’ he saved Shevchenko’s penalty and the celebrations began.
After Gerrards campaign that season in the Champions League he was almost destined to lift that trophy.
I hope you have enjoyed my view of these comebacks and would love your opinion on them. Please get in contact with subjects or discussion points id love everyone else opinion. Please share and pass this around id love more people to read my posts.
‘How can I think of leaving Liverpool after a night like this’ Steven Gerrard after the final.
HalfTime Oranges 